What Does it Mean to be Saved?

[Edward]

What does it mean to be saved? I was raised Catholic and there was never any mention of being saved. Is being saved simply accepting and believing in Jesus?

In one sense, yes. But it is at that point that, hurrah! I will be in Heaven with my Lord and be saved...but scripture makes it clear that there is rank in heaven. Some will be called the least in the Kingdom of God...lay up your treasures in heaven?...

So we're saved and are at the bottom rung in Heaven. Do we start out as a new believer as the least in Heaven? But we have been given the power to become, sons of God...so there is opportunity to advance. Through our obedience and dedication.

 

[humble soul]

saved...but scripture makes it clear that there is rank in heaven

There is a hierarchy in Heaven? That's a bit of a turn off to be honest.

 

[Edward]

There is a hierarchy in Heaven? That's a bit of a turn off to be honest.

Everything I've heard and read seems to substantiate it. There's, God, Arch Angels, Messenger Angels, Guardian Angels, Warring Angels, Saints...Lay up for yourself treasures in Heaven? Some could be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven? Some will be called great? So, there will be more or less for us there, depending on what we do here?

I don't think that there will be any disappointment in heaven for anyone. I think it's more how much our spiritual capacity is to be able to withstand more of the glory of God, or less. That capacity and spiritual growth depends on how much we press in to God while here. So if one servant had say, five talents of investment from the Lord and gained another five talents...he did good, enter thou into the joy of the Lord. Another servant gained his Lord 10 talents, and was given more.

Or imagine one's cup being the size of a thimble, and anothers the size of a water glass...both of their cups will runneth over and there will be joy for all in that way. But some will be more profitable servants to the Lord than others. And have a better position than others. Loosely speaking...I don't want to be the plumber again, lol. I don't want to show up alone! I want...Lord, look who I was able to bring with me through my efforts! More fruit for the Kingdom.

Advancing gets more difficult. Be sure it's what you would really want before praying for it.

 

[Pipiripi]

There is a hierarchy in Heaven? That's a bit of a turn off to be honest.

Read Revelation 12:7-12

 

[jerry63935]

That's why the Catholic teaching on Purgatory makes perfect sense. Like purifying metal in a furnace. Any lack of goodwill can be burnt off. Most of us will still be blemished at our time of death.

not even Bible your either saved/sins forgiven/name written in the Lamb's book of life. salvation/saved is a personal relationship with Christ

 

[jerry63935]

Is Purgatory in the Bible?

no the other cannons in the catholic bible are not inspired . when we die we either go to heaven or hell

 

[humble soul]

no the other cannons in the catholic bible are not inspired . when we die we either go to heaven or hell

Scripture is very clear when it says, “But nothing unclean shall enter [heaven]” (Rev. 21:27). Hab. 1:13 says, “You [God]… are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wrong…” How many of us will be perfectly sanctified at the time of our deaths? I dare say most of us will be in need of further purification in order to enter the gates of heaven after we die, if, please God, we die in a state of grace.
Perhaps the best place to start is with the most overt reference to a “Purgatory” of sorts in the Old Testament. I say a “Purgatory of sorts” because Purgatory is a teaching fully revealed in the New Testament and defined by the Catholic Church. The Old Testament people of God would not have called it “Purgatory,” but they did clearly believe that the sins of the dead could be atoned for by the living as I will now prove. This is a constitutive element of what Catholics call “Purgatory.”
Rejecting the inspiration and canonicity of II Maccabees does not negate its historical value. Maccabees aids us in knowing, purely from an historical perspective at the very least, the Jews believed in praying and making atonement for the dead shortly before the advent of Christ. This is the faith in which Jesus and the apostles were raised. And it is in this context Jesus declares in the New Testament:
And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come (Matthew 12:32, emphasis added).
In Matthew 5:24-25, Jesus is even more explicit about Purgatory.

Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny (Matthew 5:25-26).

 

[jerry63935]

This is a constitutive element of what Catholics call “Purgatory.”

we are JUSTIFIED the very moment we are saved when we sin we are to follow 1 john 1:9 the doctrine of justification is found in romans being justified ==mean declared righteous / not guilty/ just as if we had never sinned . this will probably get me booted out of this thread. what else is new ,,,,
the catholic teaching on purgatory is a fantasy island production. to make some one feel Good so they feel good about the sin.. we are justified by faith by the Blood and by Grace ! the cross what Christ done for us at calvary is the payment for our SINS.
when we walk in the light as he is light the blood of jesus cleanses us from our sins,, that is not exactly word for word. read 1 john 1:7 & 9 . man made doctrine is killing church folks . spiritually .. when one gets to heaven the catholic doctrine /baptist pentecostal /methodist etc. is not going to matter.
YOUR name written in the lamb book of life will. when one leaves this earth they either are or they are not. i can shoot down the catholic teaching on purgatory by using scripture . find you a concordance look up purgatory it aint there .
yes my grammar skills on a scale of 1-10 is a 1 .much of the catholic teaching is false doctrine

 

[humble soul]

i can shoot down

No shooting please

 

[Pipiripi]

Shure Piri. I was really just picking a little bit. Doesn't really matter if we say either one. Both is right I believe.
Because the one commandment fulfilled all the commandments of the old testament.
Love is one! And this commandment fulfilled all the commandments of the law. There are many..
God bless!

Hi. Link
I understand this teaching of fulfillment of the Commandments. But in reality it isn't just I know it, because it is written in my heart or it is upon Jesus on the cross. Just like you see it is about to keep it. Many Christians don't know that the Sabbath is a day. It is the 7th day of creation. And it is written what to do on this special day. Why God said to: "REMEMBER"? Do you know why? Let me know okay. Bless

 

[Pipiripi]

Rom 10:9

This is not a command, it is a believe and the devil believe the same and know better, but he is lost forever.

 

[Pipiripi]

The early church wanted to know "What must I do to be saved?"
Today's church is asking "What can I do and still be saved?"

Yes, they are thinking that by doing good deeds that they are save.

 

[humble soul]

the purgatory theory is a myth

You are entitled to your opinion of course. But just remember. It's only an opinion.

 

[jerry63935]

You are entitled to your opinion of course. But just remember. It's only an opinion.

not if i can prove it by scripture

 

[humble soul]

not if i can prove it by scripture

Ah there's one of your problems. Scripture is your only reference.

 

[jerry63935]

Ah there's one of your problems. Scripture is your only reference.

its the only reference i need i don't use man made doctrines solo scripture thus saith the word of God .i challenge you to read up on justification which means declared righteous and no unrighteousness will be heaven . when we get saved he forgives us sets us apart to be made Holy which is 3 step process we also have 1 john 1:9

 

[jerry63935]

What does it mean to be saved? I was raised Catholic and there was never any mention of being saved. Is being saved simply accepting and believing in Jesus?

see there lays the problem with catholic teaching

 

[humble soul]

i don't use man made doctrines

I've heard this claim more than once on here. Yet many sola scriptura perspectives are indeed man made. Your interpretation of scripture is man made.
You think you are quoting God directly every time you quote scripture?
After translations from another language. Contexts of what the culture was like in those countries 2000 years ago.
So many interpretations. 1000s of denominations. Look at all the arguing that goes on here. And that is just among sola scriptura members.
And then there is the varied Bible commentaries. Everyone is an amateur theologian. I prefer to read the professional theologians.

 

[humble soul]

see there lays the problem with catholic teaching

I admit one of the problems with Catholicism is a lack of Bible awareness. Many lack an understanding of their own faith. We need more motivation. We need good teachers. We can't teach ourselves. No one should be reading the Bible alone without a skilled and knowledgeable teacher.

 

[jerry63935]

We can't teach ourselves. No one should be reading the Bible alone without a skilled and knowledgeable teacher.

and why not there are plenty Bible tools available . if you would study for your self i mean read search scriptures out a good study reference bible can show you lots. you might understand what others are saying.. so why are you catholic ? A you find it truthful teachings. B raised that way and know no other way.